I need some nutrition help please!:)

OK. I'm a single guy in his mid 30's. I'm not really a great cook and don't really have the time or desire to fix complicated nutritious meals every day of the week. I eat out everyday for lunch during the week, although I choose the healthiest options that are available to me in this area. Also, I don't live in an area where I can buy a lot of fancy and exotic foods and ingredients to make great tasting low fat meals...nor do I have the money to spend on it.

My question is, for someone like me who is not a cook but interested in eating healthy, what can I do that would be quick and easy for me? I've done the lean cuisine thing to the point where I'm tired of those meals. I do grill and bake chicken and salmon quite frequently. The only time I seem to have a problem with eating healthy is on the weekends. Every Friday night, my friends and I go out for Mexican night. We eat high fat Mexican meals and drink beer. I try to limit my "sin" meal to that one meal, although there are some weekends worse than others. But, I figure that one bad meal each week is OK, since I don't want to feel as if I'm depriving myself. I kind of look at Mexican night as my reward for working so hard during the week.

So, here it is. I'm trying to lose weight. I would like to lose about 30 pounds if I could. I am doing the P90X DVds and I am in my second week of the first phase. Here is a typical menu that I consume during a weekday:


P90X Workout
Bottle of water consumed during workout

Breakfast
Whey Protein Shake approximately 8 OZ. (half banana to whole banana/berries included)

Either 1 12 OZ can of Diet Coke/Coke Zero/or Pepsi Max
Drink water until lunch (consumption varies)

Mid-morning snack:
Wheat bagel w/egg white scramble, 1 soy-sausage patty

Lunch
Foot Long Veggie De-lite sub on wheat bread with sweet onion sauce
one small bag of baked lay potato chips
Diet Coke

Dinner
Bowl of toss salad with fat free Zesty Italian or Fat Free Ranch
1 Can Healthy Choice Tomato Bisque Soup w/ 4-6 saltine crackers
Either Water or Crystal lite drink in water


You can probably substitute the lunch for either a chicken salad wrap without mayo, grilled chicken with salad and fat free french from Wendy's, or the Ceasar Grilled Chicken Salad from Wendy's without the Ceasar salad dressing (fat free french.)

This is usually a typical daily menu for me during the week. I know it is not perfect, but besides tweaking it with more water consumption, do you think this menu would set me up to fail as far as losing fat/weight while maintaining a regular workout routine? I realize the Mexican night and the beer drinking on that night can set me back, but I figure one night out of the week where I don't do the healthy thing shouldn't set me back THAT much. A typical meal for me that night would be a burrito deluxe with sour creme and guacamole. The beer, well, we won't get into that...LOL! But, aside from that one obviously bad meal, what do you think about my typical weekday menu?
 
You need to learn how to cook and stop being lazy when it come to your food intake.

(This is coming from a guy that has his own weight issues. I’m with you brother.)

Looking at what you eat I’d say you need to be eating more food, and cleaner food. And yeah the mexi night IS going to F*** up your whole goal to lose weight. Cut back to once a month.

Drink more water and use diet coke at a treat. Maybe once a day. I pick up a 32oz diet drink at the gas station only when I need gas for the car, a treat.

Eat the full banana, what are you crazy, half a banana!

Can the chips and saltines.

Add protein

Add protein

Add protein

More veggies

Stick with this sight and learn, like I'm doing.
 
Hmmm, ok, I'm not quite the expert but I have some suggestions:

- Dump the coke. As JohnnySolo said, take it as a treat. I, for example, drink one on Fridays usually. Why don't u try those carbonated flavored water? It's a much better option IMO.

- Eliminate the Sweet Onion dressing on the sub. Go with mustard or olive oil instead. Dressings usually contain lots of fats/sugars. Also, Subway's wheat bread is a hoax ( I'm assuming it's from Subway). Its main ingredient is refined flour (you can check it out on their website) and it contains high fructose corn syrup. I would go with a low carb tortilla (if available) or, even better, a salad. I eat one every Monday and what I do is add avocado/extra chicken breast/turkey/roast beef, add all vegetables and keep the dressing apart. I just scoop my fork every once in a while with it instead of dripping it all over the salad. Notice that even tho the dressing says FAT FREE, it might still have lots of sugar/sodium so watch out!

- I would eliminate the baked Lays as well. Very high in carbs. I usually make some pita chips myself when I want to dip into something or whatever. Whole grain pita bread is a great bread imo.

- Dump as much canned / frozen food as you can. Usually contain lots of sodium! You can prepare a galon of tomato soup if you want and keep it in the freezer. It will last for weeks! And you get to know what's in it and that it's really healthy for you!

- As for Mexican night, I recommend to stick to the soft tortillas (non-fried) and avoid yellow cheese, it is mostly processed cheese in most restaurants and that's not good. Stick to the "pico de gallo" or "salsa" and fish/chicken if possible. Watch the calories and yeah, enjoy that night. We all deserve a meal we enjoy. Mine is sushi!!! Yum :)

If you have any questions regarding quick healthy recipes, I have a blog on it but it's in Spanish. If you want some ideas, PM me and maybe I can help you out.
 
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- Dump the coke. As JohnnySolo said, take it as a treat. I, for example, drink one on Fridays usually. Why don't u try those carbonated flavored water? It's a much better option IMO.

Good idea. That is what I did, now I just drink carbonated water without flavoring. Make it myself and save a boat load of cash. I drink 4-6 liters a day.

10lb CO2 bottle refill is $13 and makes about 250-300 liters?
 
I will have to read that essay. Sounds cool to make carbonated water at home :)

To skinsguy, I also notice lack of fiber/slow digesting carbs. I would add to your diet some nuts (watch out for the calories), broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, zucchini. Those are all great sources of fiber! Eat some fruit as well :)

Fruits and veggies give you GREAT, quality nutrition without the need to spend lots of money in those gourmet products you speak of.

Use fresh herbs to flavor your meat. That will give you lots of different varieties for the same chicken breast you eat almost everyday :)
 
Wow thanks guys! I do realize I need to rid myself of the soft drinks, even though they are diet drinks. Actually, the Pepsi Max has no carbs, sugar, or calories in it. It just has sodium in it (35mg.) I figured the worse part of it was being carbonated. Really, I drink them because I need that caffeine lift in the mornings. I'm still getting used to getting up around 5:30 AM in the mornings to workout, so I need a little boost to keep me from passing out on top of my keyboard at work...LOL! I don't drink coffee a lot and when I do, I can't drink it black.

The thing is, as far as cooking, it isn't really a lazy thing. It's more of a time thing. I'm up first thing working out, then I'm pressed for time to get ready for work. After work, I have home owner's responsibilities, so cooking each and every night isn't an option for me. Possibly some healthy ideas of dishes I could make on the weekends to have ready for me during the week?
 
Wow thanks guys! I do realize I need to rid myself of the soft drinks, even though they are diet drinks. Actually, the Pepsi Max has no carbs, sugar, or calories in it. It just has sodium in it (35mg.) I figured the worse part of it was being carbonated. Really, I drink them because I need that caffeine lift in the mornings. I'm still getting used to getting up around 5:30 AM in the mornings to workout, so I need a little boost to keep me from passing out on top of my keyboard at work...LOL! I don't drink coffee a lot and when I do, I can't drink it black.

The thing is, as far as cooking, it isn't really a lazy thing. It's more of a time thing. I'm up first thing working out, then I'm pressed for time to get ready for work. After work, I have home owner's responsibilities, so cooking each and every night isn't an option for me. Possibly some healthy ideas of dishes I could make on the weekends to have ready for me during the week?

I understand the whole timing things but there are lots of foods that can be prepared ahead of time. It will still require some extra effort but it's worth it. I have to deal with it almost every day. :)

I know diet drinks have 0 everything, that's why it's ok to have them in terms of weight loss, but don't forget to always check the ingredients as well. Soft drinks are mostly a bunch of chemicals and we definitely want to eat as clean as possible. Eat those unpronounceable ingredients only once in a while :) The more natural, the better.
 
Well crap! I can't PM anybody for 5 more days! That's kind of dumb!

Anyways, I guess for now. If you guys could post some cool 5 minute recipes? What type of nuts should I use for a snack? I've heard a lot about eating almonds.
 
I understand the whole timing things but there are lots of foods that can be prepared ahead of time. It will still require some extra effort but it's worth it. I have to deal with it almost every day. :)

I know diet drinks have 0 everything, that's why it's ok to have them in terms of weight loss, but don't forget to always check the ingredients as well. Soft drinks are mostly a bunch of chemicals and we definitely want to eat as clean as possible. Eat those unpronounceable ingredients only once in a while :) The more natural, the better.

That makes sense! :beerchug:

It's funny, a year ago, my dad had a heart attack and it scared my whole family straight into eating healthier. At the time, I was still too lazy to do a regular workout, but I had lost weight on changing my diet. At the time, I would have grilled chicken, canned green beans, canned carrots, two rolls, cup of skim milk, and a cup of fruit for my dinner. It filled me up and I lost weight without really even trying. For lunch, I would have pretty much what I'm having now.

However, I'm seeing that now since I'm on a regular workout routine and needing the calories in order to last through these workouts (because they are quite intense workouts that last at least an hour a session,) it's been more difficult to lose weight on the same types of foods. Weird huh?

edit: I had lost over 20 pounds when I wasn't trying!
 
One night a week pre-cook everything can that you may need for the week, like chicken breast and store it for daily consumption. I’m going to try making turkey meatballs with tomato sauce and stretch that out over a few days. And I keep frozen vegetables in the fridge at work. The grocery department nearby has a nice salad bar to hit on occasion and when I buy a lg. sub I use it for two meals not one.

Also eggbeaters can be poured into a coffee mug and nuked, add an English muffin and sliced turkey (tuna, ham) for a breakfast sandwich.
 
yer getting some good, and straight up, advice.

there are a few lil rules that work pretty good.

if it has bubbles don't drink it
if it is individually wrapped don't eat it
whole wheat products over white flower always
AND-
sweat daily


welcome to the site
FF
 
You can buy whole grain pitas and keep them in the fridge. Make some hummus (easy: chick peas, olive oil, garlic and lemon in a food processor). You can keep it under refrigeration for about a week. Chop some cabbage and keep it in a glass container. Then simply add to the pita some hummus, tuna, cabbage, tomato and drizzle with some lemon juice. I also add avocado at times, but watch out the calories.

This would take you about 5 minutes to prepare and lots of goodies in it :) You can switch tuna for turkey breast, chicken breast, etc. This is one of my favorite meals.
 
Mmmm...sounds good! Keep 'em coming guys! I'm going to print this off. Can I find Pita bread in Food Lion or Krogers? We don't really have any specialty grocery stores in my town.

Big question on the turkey and ham. I assume you are talking about the lunch meats? Wouldn't that be a big no-no because they are processed meats? I take high blood pressure and cholesterol meds, and my doctor told me to stay away from processed meats.
 
Mmmm...sounds good! Keep 'em coming guys! I'm going to print this off. Can I find Pita bread in Food Lion or Krogers? We don't really have any specialty grocery stores in my town.

Big question on the turkey and ham. I assume you are talking about the lunch meats? Wouldn't that be a big no-no because they are processed meats? I take high blood pressure and cholesterol meds, and my doctor told me to stay away from processed meats.

I do prefer turkey breast as opposed to turkey ham. It's much leaner and it's a good source of protein. I would say the biggest issue with processed meats is sodium. I don't really know about your meds and the cholesterol issue, so I will not venture into those realms. I have heard that when presenting cholesterol/high blood pressure you want to stay away from saturated fats / high cholesterol meals. Ham could be a problem, but I don't think turkey breast would. Don't take my word on this tho.

Canned tuna is also processed but it is still very nutritious and a great aid towards healthy eating. You've just got to balance it all, and that takes some time, but step by step you'll start progressing towards a healthier diet :) I've seen there are low sodium varieties of canned tuna. If possible, look for those if sodium worries you. If not, buy the regular one. Canned with water, that is :)
 
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I do prefer turkey breast as opposed to turkey ham. It's much leaner and it's a good source of protein. I would say the biggest issue with processed meats is sodium. I don't really know about your meds and the cholesterol issue, so I will not venture into those realms. I have heard that when presenting cholesterol/high blood pressure you want to stay away from saturated fats / high cholesterol meals. Ham could be a problem, but I don't think turkey breast would. Don't take my word on this tho.

Canned tuna is also processed but it is still very nutritious and a great aid towards healthy eating. You've just got to balance it all, and that takes some time, but step by step you'll start progressing towards a healthier diet :) I've seen there are low sodium varieties of canned tuna. If possible, look for those if sodium worries you. If not, buy the regular one. Canned with water, that is :)

:) I'll have to see what's out there. Heck, I don't mind just getting a slab of tuna and cooking it if I had to. I love tuna salad and stuff like that. What about Shrimp? I know to stay away from popcorn shrimp, but just plain ol' shrimp with fat free ****tail sause?
 
:) I'll have to see what's out there. Heck, I don't mind just getting a slab of tuna and cooking it if I had to. I love tuna salad and stuff like that. What about Shrimp? I know to stay away from popcorn shrimp, but just plain ol' shrimp with fat free ****tail sause?

yumm...
and
scallops
 
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